Although there are many places of interest, the following
are the most notable :

Shri Aurobindo Ashram:Shri Aurobindo, the great seer, poet and prophet of the
twentieth century, made Pondicherry his home from 1910 till his death in
1950. His vision and ideals continue to draw people from all over the
world.

Auroville:Located 10 kms north of Pondicherry town, Auroville is
envisioned as a Universal Town, where people from different
nationalities, faiths and beliefs, can live in peace and harmony. The
construction of this 'universal town' was started in 1968 under the
guidance of The Mother, a Paris-born painter musician who became Sri
Aurobindo's disciple and close companion from 1924 till his death in
1950. The development of this utopia is still in progress. Several
countries have offered to set up permanent pavilions, reflecting the
culture and ethos of their countries.

Pondicherry Museum:On display are the findings of Arikamedu, the Chola
bronzes and sculptures, glimpses of French heritage, specimens of modern
and traditional handicraft, paintings, armouries, carvings and many
other things of historical interest.

Chunnambar Resort - Water Sports Centre:Known for its virgin beaches and backwaters, Chunnambar
has a Water Sports Centre which offers exciting boating experiences. It
is also a great tourist spot.

Botanical Garden:Established by C.S. Perrotet in 1826, it preserves a
large variety of exotic species of plants from all over India and
abroad.

Villiayanur:Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswarar Temple, architecturally
the finest in Pondicherry, is located 9.5 kms away. During May-June, a
ten-day annual festival (Brahmothsavam) is held here which attracts
hundreds of devotees. The temple car rising to a height of 15.25 metres
is profusely decorated, pulled out from its usual position and taken on
a procession around the town. It is an awe-inspiring
sight.

Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai:Built in 1773, this mansion is a fine specimen of
Indo-French architecture. Ananda Rangapillai was the courtier of Joseph
Francois Dupleix, the Governor. The diary which Rangapillai maintained
between 1736-60 is a book of great value as a source of information on
the history of Pondicherry and the French in India.

Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus:Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this church is
noted for its gothic architecture and stained glass panels which depict
the entire life of Jesus Christ.

Anglo-French Textile Mills:Established over a century ago, a visit to the
Anglo-French Textile Mills is an education in itself. The mill gives a
ten percent rebate on purchases made by tourists who go on guided tours.
The acclaimed fabrics and products of this mill make ideal mementoes and
gifts.

The Pondicherry Museum
has whole
suites furnished in the French style in fashion, at the time of
occupation. Marble sculptures include the Cupid and Psyche, Venus
and Spring pieces. The Arms Gallery is yet another
fascinating feature of this museum. The Art Gallery
contains invaluable archaeological finds pertaining to Roman,
French and Hindu cultures. The Romain Rolland Library has
over 60,000 volumes, including rare French books. The Manakula
Vinaynagar Temple on Rue d'Orleans, the 12th century Sri
Tirukameswarar Temple at Vilayanur and the 7th century
Thiruvandar Temple are shrines built in the Chola period,
in the 10th-12th centuries. The Sacred Heart Church, the
Eglise de Notre Dame de Anges and the Eglise de Notre
Dame de Lourdes are the other interesting historical
sites.

Pondicherry is oval-shaped, with
streets aligned at right angles. The skillfully planned township
is distinguished by a 3 km long esplanade which skirts the town
and encloses the tourist attractions.TheGovernment
Park is well-planned with flower beds and fountains, one of
them dating back to the period of Napoleon III (1852-1870).
Raj Niwas, where Dupleix once lived, (now, the residence of
an Indian Lt. Governor) has a garden with a sculpture of Lord
Vishnu as the 'varaha avatar' (boar incarnation) together with the
earth goddess Lakshmi. The Botanical Gardens, conceived in
1826, boast a variety of rare and exotic plants from India and
abroad, and the Sama Koil church, once a temple of Shiva is
impressive with a grotto of Mother Mary. The beautiful un-spoilt
beach, the aquarium, Poet Bharathi and Bharatidasan memorial
museums, First World War Memorial, Ousteri lake
and Joan of Arc Square are the other spots of tourist
interest.